Lost in Love: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Madeline Kennet

A surprise meeting in an unusual place brings Jane and Mr. Bingley together at last, and puts Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy on the path toward true love.
A short read of about 13000 words.

Genres: Romance

53 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2017

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!

What can I say but that I thoroughly enjoyed this variation!!!! It was light and pleasing, without all the nastiness. Lost in Love tells about what might have happened if Jane and Elizabeth ran into Bingley and Darcy in London after the Hunsford debacle. I have to say I have almost always loved the Gardiners, but they are truly special in this book!! The only issue I have is that it was too short!!!! I will highly recommend it to all of my JAFFer friends!!!

[wosedwew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. ~Wallace Stevens

Or, in this case, a walk through a maze!

After the Hunsford proposal, an encounter at the center of a London maze shocks the Bingleys, Hursts, Gardiners, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, and of course Darcy.

Mrs. Gardiner (bless that woman) out-manipulates the Bingley sisters and J/B and D/E are left to walk out of the maze on their own. Can you guess how many engaged couples leave the maze?

Well, we always knew she was a very great walker.
This is short and sweet – a heartwarming vignette.

Thoughts come clearly while one walks. ~Thomas Mann

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have said this is short and it is sweet. The Hunsford time and come and gone. Elizabeth and Mariah return to London and with Jane and the Gardiners have a day visit planned to Hampton Court where they will walk the maze and picnic lunch. Coincidently, Mr. Bingley, Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Mr. Darcy happen to have the same plans, the same day. So they meet and separate into the groupings of which we would hope to read.

Jane and Bingley make no delay in coming to their agreement about feelings and hopes for the future while Darcy and Elizabeth have a very open and honest conversation about the proposal and the misconceptions as well as the truths revealed in that. He quickly questions if there is any chance they might begin again and she tells him her feeling are very different from those in Hunsford. A visit to Gunter’s for ices, a night at a play and the couples anticipate Netherfield being opened again and a reunion there in a short time.

This came to a conclusion just a little too quickly for me. Happiness is found but there is none of the angst or even chemistry going on between either couple that I enjoy in reading. I did like how Mrs. Gardiner quickly perceives the manipulations of Caroline and makes her own counter moves.

I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited. It is one of those that can be picked up and put down without stress but can also be read quickly if you have an hour or two to fill.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short sweet P&P what if that imagines that a few days after leaving Hunsford Lizzy runs in to Darcy and Jane runs into Bingley while touring Hampton Court Palace and a stroll through the maze helps reunite ODCs.

Angst free Caroline's mild scheming is quickly thwarted.

[J. W. Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” Desmond Tutu

This was an adorable, cute, clean, quick read that started with Elizabeth leaving Hunsford and traveling to London where she and Maria Lucas would stay with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Jane was still in town and their plans were to enjoy London for a few days before they returned home. On one occasion, their plans included an excursion through a maze, to be followed by a picnic. When they reached the center of the maze, who should appear, but the Bingley group and Mr. Darcy.

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” Bruise Lee

For those who love angst and fast action… it was not here. The fastest action I encountered was the horses pulling the coach from Kent back to London. Sorry, this was a low angst, mostly talking and not showing. Our couples walked throughout the maze and discussed their past, their present and hopefully their future. We readers of JAFF variations are always clamoring for more page time with ODC [our dear couple]. In this variation, we had that page time. Our dear couples [B&J, D&E] were allowed time to talk out their problems and solve their differences. With Caroline occupied [thank you Mrs. Gardiner], Bingley took advantage of her distraction. Go Bingley!!!

“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” Bryant H. McGill

Although the action was confined to the maze, the love story moved at the speed of a freight train. In reality, that allowed us to get to the HEA that much more quickly. It was so cute and adorable. I loved the interactions and machinations of Aunt and Uncle Gardiner as they circumvented Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at every turn. Oh, that was so funny. The ending scene was so adorable, it was swoon worthy. Perhaps it was a bit OOC [out of character]; however, I didn’t care, it was just too cute.

There was a missed Miss... and stated Mrs. Bingley by mistake.

[colleen churm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in Love.

Another well written story by Madeline Kennet. It starts with Elizabeth ending her visit with Charlotte, in a funny mood; she is enjoying the beautiful day and the hope for a nice visit with Jane and the Gardiners in London, but she has examined how her prejudices towards Mr. Darcy were wrong, but still thinks Mr. Darcy is a disagreeable person. Onward to London to her relatives, then a planned visit to a famous Maze brings unexpected results! Their party has a surprise meeting with Mr. Darcy and the Bingley group! Now things begin to turn about! A very pleasant Read!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I short, quick read. It really left a smile upon my face. The story begins as Elizabeth leaves Kent and is returning to London. She did receive Darcys' letter and is thinking about what is written. Once in London while walking in a maze, the Gardiners, Maria, Jane, Elizabeth, Darcy, the Bingley's, and the Hursts encounter each other. Bingley and Jane pair off as well as Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth and Darcy engage in open, honest communication. Can this be enough to repair their relationship? Read it and find out.

[Tandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as sweet as pecan pie! An adorable short story that has the Bennett sisters unexpectedly reunited with Darcy and Bingley (and his yucky sisters). Darcy was was waxing a bit too poetic in his professions of love towards the end. I feel like less is more when we have Darcy expressing deep feelings. It’s out of character to switch from emotionally constipated to verbose so rapidly. Baby steps Darcy.

[Madenna U · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Pride and Prejudice variation takes place as Elizabeth is leaving Hunsford. The story is flowery both in the physical and descriptive sense. The Gardiner's host Elizabeth, Jane and Maria at an outdoor garden with a maze. Once they reach the middle they are joined unexpectedly by the Bingleys, Hursts, and Darcy. This gives our favorite couples a chance to talk about their thoughts and feelings, which leads to their happily ever afters.

This was a very easy short read. The way Elizabeth and Darcy express themselves was very romantic.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short sweet read - it takes about 30 minutes to read and its lovely! After .eating Hunsfort, Elizabeth, Jane and the Gardiners visit Hampton Court maze where they have a chance encounter with the Bingleys and Mr Darcy. Jane and Bingley pair off and so do Elizabeth and Darcy where they manage a deep and meaningful conversation. Miss Bingley is unhappy to see matters unfolding right before her scheming eyes... but things are moving quickly so there is little she can do.

I really enjoyed this book. A light, lovely read!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but kind of bland. Once Bingley and Jane, and Darcy and Elizabeth accidentally meet while touring the garden maze of a country estate, there isn't much in the way of drama or surprise. The whole tale is essentially an expanded HEA for the two couples.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angst-less fluff. It basically has no plot (Post-Hunsford, London setting. The Gardiners, Jane, Elizabeth, and Maria go to picnic in a maze the same day the Bingleys and Darcy do, and they accidentally meet up. By the time they get out of the maze, Jane and Bingley are engaged and Darcy and Elizabeth have made up. A few days later, and now Elizabeth and Darcy too are engaged. Darcy has learned to propose better. :D Meanwhile, Mrs Gardiner outmanoeuvres Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst very aptly.), so it's just a nice, relaxing, but short, feel-good story. And those are not without a charm of their own. So yes, I'd recommend this book for those in need of a quick pick-me-up.

Warning, in case you are like me in that your suspension of disbelief is strained when D& E make up and get together only a few days or a week after Hunsford: Proceed with caution, because this is one such story. (In canon, Darcy said it took him a while to give credence to Elizabeth's reproofs. Somehow, I don't think he meant "only a week" when he said that.)

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet read. Soon after Hunsford, Darcy, the Bingleys, Jane, and Elizabeth meet at the center of a maze. The gentlemen and the Bennet sisters take their time navigating back through the maze and have beneficial conversations that lead to lots of happiness.
I liked this a lot, it's a great fluffy snack between more substantial reads.

The sound carried a bit beyond the maze hedges so I was concerned that Miss Bingley and the Hursts would overhear something they shouldn't, but it turned out not to be a problem.

[Amanda Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

Good quick read. I enjoyed the sweetness and expertly crafted world this book creates. I do wish it was longer but that is a good problem to have.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and sweet

Loved the meeting in London. Loved how all people in concern worked out his or her problems. Appreciate how the ending was

[abmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really short and sweet story.

[Camille Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

This variation doesn't allow for so many months of separation after the disastrous proposal in Hunsford. Elizabeth regretted her prejudice and, confronted with another opportunity to speak with Darcy is more understanding of him. This makes for a very delightful pleasant storyline.

[Kasia Burlakoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short story with an unexpected meeting in a maze. I would like a little more of a plot.

[Michelle David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

A short but sweet little variation inspired by Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride And Prejudice. I thoroughly enjoyed it but wish it had been longer

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet path

In this Short story it starts out a week after the failed proposal, when Lizzy is contemplating what happened. The story progresses to her arriving at her aunt and uncle's house where with Jane they have a chance encounter meeting Darcy and the Bingleys in of all places, a maze in a public park.

This a very short story and there really isn't any angst. All things get cleared up and we have our HEA.

Cute easy read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the accidental meeting. I loved the way Darcy apologized to Elizabeth; however, I didn't like her fishing for compliments, and she decided she loved him too quickly. The book was very short and ended abruptly.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

As super sweet as the lovely 1980 Air Supply song of the same title I'm listening to right now.....I can especially hear and see Jane saying many of things in the song(Elizabeth and Darcy need something a little more...robust)....no...really the showers on my eyes are from the onions I'm about to cut up....

[Elin Eriksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short story. Sweet and romantic.

After Hunsford ODC meet in a maze in London. Talking of there misunderstandings there is soon other feelings in the air